THE DEPARTURE

The coming of age of Ruth, too much like her father to be able to live with him peaceably, deals with the classic conflict in anything but classic terms. The author is easily carried away and the mood swing from revolt and despair to release and ""radiance"" (a word she favors) is considerable. For while her father is a minister, Ruth has another kind of glory road in mind, a concert career- perhaps Carnegie Hall, and although he encourages her in her music, he is restrictive in other ways (bobbed hair; dancing). Her defensive mother helps to ease the friction between them but at her death both are lost, angry and even more apart. Finally Ruth is able to free herself and her father is able to let go.... The time is the '20's and homemaking, churchgoing details domesticate this for the conservative ladies in the rental sodality, perhaps the readers of Elizabeth Corbett. As such it may be acceptable.